Improvement in detaching horses



2 Sheets-- Sheet1. 1 H. ROGERS.

Detaching Horses.

. N 54 07 Patented Sept. 8,1874.

minesses lnvenE-ar:

Detaching Horses.

Wi'ineass UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES H. ROGERS, OF CHARLESTON, wEST VIRGINIA.

'IMPROVEMENTIN DETACHING HORSES.

. Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 154,807 dated September 8, 1874; application filed r 1 July 6,1874.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JAMES H. RoGERs, of Charleston, in the county of Kanawha and State of West Virginia, have invented certain Improvements in Carriages, of which the following is a specification:

My invention consists, mainly, in a novel combination of devices by which the king-bolt may be released at will, and the front wheel or wheels of the vehicle permitted to separate from the body in case the animal becomes unmanageable. This improvement is intended, more especially, for use on vehicles having only threewheels, with a single leading Wheel in front; but it may be employed in the ordinary four-wheeled carriages as well.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a threewheeled carriage containing my improvement; Fig. 2, a central vertical section through the fifth-wheel or Swivel, showing my improvement; Fig. 3, a top-plan view of said part.

A represents the body, which is made of any suitable form, and mounted on two wheels, B, at the rear end, and a single wheel, 0, at the front. The rear wheels are mounted, outside of the body, on the ends of a transverse axle, as usual, but the front wheel is mounted in a split or forked post, D, which is mounted vertically under the front end of the body, at the middle of the same, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3. The post D is arranged in such manner that it can turn or rotate freely to change the course or direction of the wheel. The wheel turns freely on its axle, which passes through the posts, and has its ends connected to the rear ends of the thills or shafts G, by which the draft animal is attached-to the carriage in the usual manner.

The manner in which the post D is jointed or connected to the body is clearly shown in all three figures. The upper end of the post is provided with a horizontal circular plate, a, which bears against, and turns upon,

lower end, and with a slot or hole through its upper end, and it is held in place by a key or tongue, d, passing through said hole in its upper end, above the plate b, asshown in all the figures.

By withdrawing the key at, the king bolt 0 may be released, so that it-will drop down and release the post and wheel, so that they can separate from the body, the front end of which latter will then fall.

The rear end of the key 01 is pivoted to an upright hand-lever, e, mounted in the front of the body, in convenient reach of the occupants, who can, it will be seen, instantly relcase the post, with the thills and front wheel, by simply drawing back the lever.

In order to prevent the parts from being disconnected accidentally a strong spring, 71., is arranged to bear behind the lever, and force it forward, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3.

For the purpose of giving the parts greater strength and security, each of the plates at bis provided with a lip, 73, engaging over the edge of the other, as shown in Fig. 2. Two straps, k, are also secured from the cross or draw bar of the thills to the upper end of the post D, as shown. These straps serve to uphold the shafts, and to throw a large portion of the draft-strain directly upon the upper end of the post, near its point of connection to the body, so that the parts are less liable to strain than would be the case if the entire strain were upon the lower end of the post.

In order to protect the horse from mud and dirt thrown from thefront wheel I secure over and in front of the latter a dash or shield, l, as shown in Fig. 1.. I also propose to provide an adjustable scraper, m, to remove all adhering mud from the edge of the wheel, this scraper to be slotted, and secured to the body by a screw, as shown in Fig. 2, or secured to the post, so as to be always in the same relative position to the wheel, notwithstanding the swivel movement of the latter.

In building the carriage the parts are to be proportioned and arranged to bring the front end of the body as low as possible, so that, when the front wheel is released, the end of 'the body will fall but a short distance, and

without endangering the occupants. As an additional safeguard, the front end of the body may be provided with two depending steps, J, made strong enough to sustainthe end of the body, or at least to ease its fall. These steps may be curved or rounded in such manner that they will serve as runners, to slide on the ground, and gradually stop the motion of the body while upholding its front end.

In case the horse becomes unmanageable, or runs away, the occupant of the carriage simply draws back the lever, which releases the front wheel, whereupon the front end of the body drops to the ground, and, sliding there? on, is gradually brought to rest.

When my improvements are applied to fourwheeled vehicles a front axle is used, as usual, and the king-bolt and its connections arranged in the same manner as above described.

Having described my invention, what I claim is 1. The king-bolt c, inserted from below in the joint which connects the front-axle or bearing of a vehicle' with the body thereof, in combination with a detachable key, 01, whereby the king-bolt may be released and permitted to-drop out, and disconnect the front wheel or wheels from the body, as set forth.

2. In combination with the post D, having the front wheel 0 mounted therein, and provided on its upper end with the plate a, the plate 11, secured to the body, the king bolt 0, and the sliding key 01, as and for the purpose set forth.

3. In combination with the king-bolt 0, the key d, lever e, and spring h, all constructed to operate as set forth.

J NO. S. SUMAN, W. P. EWING. 

